Means for separating bitumen from bitumen-bearing ore.



G. M. WILLIS. MEANS FOR SEPARATING BITUMEN FROM BITUMEN BEARING ORE.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN.7, 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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G. M. WILLIS. MEANS FOR SEPARATING BITUMEN FROM BITUMEN BEARING ORE.

APPLICATION FILED JANJI, 1908.

91 8,629, Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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wz'tneases" j7Z-ue/Z07 ditto/774%? verized ore by means of a stream of hotwater erably in a pulverized condition, with a sol- UNITED STATE S r ATENT OFFICE.-

GEORGE M. WILLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR SEPARATING BITUMEN FROM BITUIIIEN-BEARING ORE.

7 Application filed Jaimai'y 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. WILLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of (00k and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement .1 Means for Separating Bitumen from Bitumen-Bearing Ore, of which 4 the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved means for separating bitumen from bitumen bearing ore. Heretofore it has been proposed to accomplish this result in two general ways: First, to mix the ore, prefvent adapted to extract the bitumen from the ore and to then run oil the liquid, leaving the impurities behind. The solution is then 1 distilled, leaving the bitumen in solid form, and by condensing the solvent it may be 5 used repeatedly. Second, by mixing the pulverized ore with water and boiling and agitating it so as to separate the impurities from the bitumen.

My invention belongs to the second class above mentioned, and heretofore diiliculty has been experienced in the use of apparatus for this urposc in that it has been very diilicult to andle the pulverized ore without having it cake into lumps that were practically unworkable. Also, it has been diilieult to form a mixture divided finely enough to facilitate the separation of the sand, silt and impurities generally, from the bitumen, and further it has been dillicult to perfectly eliminate the moisture from the mixture after 1 the precipitation of the im urities.

My system for accomp ishing the result indicated consists in pulverizing the ore in the presence of hot water, washing the pulto a first pan in which the mixture of water andipulverized ore is boiled by the a plication of heat to the pan and a part of t ie iin purities are thereby separated and precipitated, transferring the mixture of hot water, bitumen and remaining impurities to a second similar pan in which it is again boiled and stirred, or agitated, and more of the impurities are separated and precipitated, transerring the bitumen and remaini im urities and water intimately associate wit the same to an inclined pan or chute heated sufliciently to evaporate all themoisture and Specification of Letters Patent.

some moisture.

in the second pan, and by tumen.

Patented April 20, 1909.

1908. Serial No.- 409,716.

' liquefy but not burn the bitumen. 'In this fluid condition, the bitumen is run into settling tanks, and after a short time the remaining impurities settle and collect at the bottom.

It has been found that all bitumen bearing ore contains besides a small percentage of bitumen, a large percentage of comparatively coarse particles of silica or sand and a sum l percentage of iinpalpable powder, as silt or decomposed silicates or carbonates, and also In my system, I make use of hot water for the purpose of keeping the rolls of the pulverizer clean and maintaining the pulverized particles of bitumen separated at all times, since these particles will not cohere nor adhere to any wet surfaces when surrounded by water films. As a result, the large percentage of silica grains are readily separated, es'peciall when agitated the time the bitumen leaves'the second pan all of the larger particles of forei n matter heavier than water are so araterl and'removed from the bihe water, however, serves to intimatel associate the impalpable powder with the bitumen articles, and this association can only be estroyed by wholly eliminating the moisture and rendering the bitumen fluid, whiiih I accom lish as described and which ermits the sit to settle in the settling tank and the resulting purified bitumen may be drawn oil from the top of this tank.

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 364,821, filed March 27, 1907, applicant has disclosed and claimed the process of accomplisliing the results herein set forth.

The several drawings illustrating my invention are as follows:

Figure, 1 shows diagrammatically in top view the separating and drying pans, and the means I employ to transfer the material from one an to another; Fig. 2 shows in side view t is parts shown in big. 1; Fig. 2 shows in side view a settling tank in pos tion at the lower end of the inclined pan; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in liig. 1; lig. 4 is a sectional view taken alon the line 4-4 in Jig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken alon the line 5-5 in Fig. 1 Fig.'6 is an enlarge sectional view taken along the line 6*6 in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 IS a hopper adapted to feed the ore to the crushing rolls 1 v2 and 8, and finally therethrough to the pulrolls are arranged to be operated 1n any suitby means of a pulley 38 through suitable I able manner not shown, and since these rolls and their function form no art of this invention, it is not thought t at further description of the same is necessary. By means of this runnin water the pulverized material is carried a ong in the trough 12 and into the first pan 13. A chain conveyer or rabble 14 suitably supported upon sprocket wheels 16 and 17 is arranged over t e pan 13 so as to feed the material delivcred into the an along to the right. The sprocket whee s 16 are suitably supported upon a shaft, as shown, to which motion is communicated from the pulley 36 by means of the gearing, as indicated. A second chain conveyer 15 is also arranged over the pan 13 and is supported by sprocket wheels 18 and 19 to be driven from pulley 37 through suitable gearing, as indicated, in a direction the reverse of the chain conveyer 14. The function of the paddles carried by the conveyer 14 is to keep the pulverized ore agitated and thoroughly and evenly mixed in the bottom of the pan, to facilitate the separation of the bitumen particles from the coarser impurities, as sand, etc., and to thus permit the bitumen particles to readily become associated with small bubbles of steam formed by the heat applied to the bottom of the pan, by suitable means, as afurnace 21 indicated in 2. The particles of bitumen, as a result of this action, arise to the surface of the liquid and are then fed by means of the skimmers 54, carried by the chain conveyer 15 to the left in the pan 13 and toward the discharge opening 20, through which they pass with more or less of the water from the pan 13 into the second pan 22. Immediately upon enterin this pan, the floating bitumen particles and associated impurities come in contact with an agitator 66 supported in a suitable manner above the pan 22 and adapted to be reciprocated transversely to such pan by means of a connectin rod 68 cooperating with a crank 69 secure to and adapted to be driven by a pulley by means of a suitable shaft supported in bearings, as indicated. The agitator 66 carries a number of depending paddles, or teeth, 67, which serve to agitate or stir up the bitumen articles and associated impurities b which the separation of such impurities 1S facilitated.

A belt conveyer 24 is provided in the bottom of the pan 22, being supported upon rollers 25 and 26 and adapted to be moved above t erases f gearing, as indicated, to move the im urities deposited from the bitumen to the le tin the tank and carry them out over the left hand of such tank. A chain conveyer 27 is located over this tank 22 and provided with skimmers ada ted to move the floating bitumen partic es and im urities still associated therewith to the right in the tank 22, and carrv them up the inclined end 23- of such tank,'finally delivering them into the inclined pan- 30. The conveyer 27 is suitably supported on sprocket wheels 28 and 29 and is adapted to be moved as described by means of a pulley 39 and gearing as indicated. r

The pan 30 has formed beneath it a flue 31, the lower end of which is in connection with a furnace 32 adapted to supply heat to this flue 31, as a result of which the' an 30 is heated to a temperature considera ly above the boiling point of water but not hot enough to carbonize the bitumen particles delivered to such pan. The result of this is that the moisture associated with'the bitumen particles is evaporated, and after passing part way down't e pan, the moisture is entirely removed and the bitumenparticles are melted and collected into liquid form. A chain conveyer 33 supported upon sprocket wheels 34 and 35 is associated with the pan 30 to facilitate themotion of the bitumen downward in this pan 30 by means of blades, or paddles, secured to such conveyer. This conveyer is adapted to be operated by means of a pulley 40 through suitable gearing, as indicated, and is entirely inclosed bv the sides 41 of the'pan 30, which have sectional doors 42 to cover it on top, and thus to a large degree retain the heat communicated to such pan from the flue 31. The fluid bitumen delivered from the pan 30 is collected in a tank 43, shown in Fig. 2", and after a suitable interval, the impurities still 1n the u per part of this tank and may be drawn 0 through a suitable valve'44 before having cooled sufliciently to become solid. A valve 45 is rovided to draw 05 the impurities from the ottom part of the tank 43.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the construc tion of the chain conveyers 14 and 15 and the parts carried thereby will be better understood. The chains 14-are su ported by rollers 49 at frequent interva from whichhangers 48 dependinsuch a manner as to support a cross-bar 50 a short distance e bottom of the "pan 13; This bar 50 has anum-ber of bosses formed on it through which a number of paddles. 51 are adjustably secured, as indicated, insuch a way that they may be turned to any desired angle relatively to the bar 50. The hangers 48 are maintained at right angles tothe remaining collectat the bottom, while the i purified bitumen remains in liquid condition p chains 14'by means of braces 57 secured to-ieo veyer 14 to the right side of the tank and still further advance it,.

but neither will advance the material in the bottom of the tank as rapidly as'the motion of the conveyer itself. As a result, the material is slowly advanced through the tank and is maintained in a thoroughly stirred and agitated condition. The motion of the conis very slow in practice in order to permit the heat from the furnace to thoroughly operate upon all of the bitumen particles. The chain conveyer 15 is adapted to be sup )orted at intervals from rails secured to rackets supported from the sides of the tank 13, as indicated, and these bars 52 have secured to them by means of brackets 53 skimmer blades 54, which serve toengage the floating mixture of bitumen particles and associated impurities and move them as described to the left in the tank 13, toward the outlet opening 20.

The detailed construction of the second pan 22 isbetter understood by reference to ,Fig. 5, in which the belt conveyer 24 is shown in the lower part of the tank 22 as supported by the rolls 63 which occur at frequent intervals throughout the length of the belt. Deflectin wings 62 are secured to the inside of the tank 22 to direct impurities precipitated from the bitumen upon the belt 24. The chain conveyer 27 is supported from suitable standards 61 by cross-bars by means of rails 59 carried by such standards. These cross-bars occur at frequent intervals, and have attached to them skimmer paddles 58 which serve to move the floating particles of bitumen and the impurities still associated therewith to the right in the tank 22, and finally over into the pan 30. The tank 22 is adapted to be heated in the same manner, as indicated for the tank 13.-

Figs. 6 and 7 show in detail the construction of the chain conveyer 33 located in the pan 30, and as indicated the means for suporting these chains 33 consist in scraper 'lades 46 secured at intervals along the length of the chains 33 and braced therefrom by braces 47- to maintain such scrapers at practically right angles to such chains. The scrapers 46 rest upon the bottom of the pan 30 and serve to move the bitumen articles and remaining impurities toward t 1e lower end of the pan as t e moisture is bein evaporated from them and as such partic es are being li uefied. The, pan 30 is inclosed around t re conveyer 33 by means of the extended sides 41, and the sectional doors 42 in order that the conveyer and its associated scraper blades 46 may be maintained in warm condition and also that the bitumen may not be decomposed by the action of the heat. I have found in the practice of my invention that by varying the amount of air admitted to the liquid bitumen while it is being dried in the pan 30, varying grades of bitumen may be produced suitable for use in different localities. I have also found in the practice of my invention that it is de-' sirable, if not necessary, to subject the pans 13 and 22 to the direct action of fire in order to thoroughly effect the separation of the bitumen particles from the associated impurities, since the application of heat in other forms, as by steam jackets, etc., has not operated to produce the desired result.

While I haveshown my invention in the embodiment described above, I do not, however, limit myself to this construction, but claim any equivalent modification that will suggest itself to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. As a meansfor separating bitumen from bitumen bearing ore, a pulverizer for crushing the ore, a water conveyer for conveying the crushed ore to a first pan, a conveyer'in such first pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer for transfer ring the partly urified bitumen to a second pan adapted to urther facilitate the removal of impurities from the bitumen, a conveyer in the second pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer in the second pan for transferring the bitumen and remaining im )uilties to a third pan, means for heating the third pan to drive off the moisture and lifiuefy the bitumen, and a tank for receiving the liquid bitumen.

2. As a means for separating bitumen from bitumen bearing ore, a pulverizer for crushing the ore, a water conveyer for conveying the crushed ore to a first pan, means for heating such pan to facilitate the se aration of impuritips from the bitumen a conveyer in such pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer moving more rapidly than such first eon veyer and adapted to transfer the partly urified bitumen to a second pan, means, or heating such second an to further facilitate the separation of impurities from the bitumen, a conveyer in such second pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer in such second pan adapted to transfer the bitumen and remaining impurities to an inclined pan, means for heating such inclined pan to drive off the moisture and liquefy the bitumen, a settlin tank for receiving such liquid bitumen, and a conveyer in the third pan for transferring the bitumen and remaining impurities into such tank.

3. As a means for separating bitumen 1c adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a

from bitumen bearing ore, a pulverizer for crushing the ore, a water conveyer for con-' sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer for transferring the partly purified bitumen to a second pan adapted to further facilitate the removal of impurities from the bitumen, means for agitating the mixture in such second pan, a conveyer insuch second pan skimmer conveyer in the second pan for transferring the bitumen and remaining impurities to a third pan, means for heating the third pan to drive ofi the moisture and liquefy the bitumen, and a tank for receiving the liquid bitumen.

4. Asa means for separating bitumen from bitumen bearing ore, a pulverizer for crush ing the ore, a Water conveyer for conveying the crushed ore to a first pan, a conveyer in such first pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer for transferringthe partly purified bitumen to a second pan, agitatin paddles adapted to be reci rocally movet i m such second pan to fac tate the further removal of impurities from the bitumen, a conveyer in the second pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer in the second pan for transferring the'biturnen and remaining impurities to a third pan, means for heating the third pan to drive off the moisture and liquefy the bitumen, liquid bitumen. I

5. Asa means for separating bitumen from bitumen bearing ore, a pulverizer for crushing thegore, a Water conveyer for conveying the crushed ore to a first pan, a conveyer in such first pan consisting in a plurality of spades arranged in series on an endless belt and adapted to remove sediment from such first pan, a skimmer conveyer for transferring the partly urified bitumen to a second pan adapted to urther facilitate the removal of impurities from the bitumen, a conveyer in'the second pan adapted to remove sedimenttherefrom, a skimmer conveyer in the slec'ondpan for transferring. the bitumen and remaining im urities to a thirdpan, means for li eatingt e third pan to drive off the $5" bitumen bearing ore, pulverizer for crush-,

' the crushed ore to a first 'mOistHIQand liquefy' the bitumen, and a vtank for receiving the liquid bitumen.

.6; As a means for sep arating'bitumen from ing the ore, a water conveyer for conveying pan, a conveyer m such first an consistin in a plurality of anguflai ly a justable spa es arranged 'in series and a tank for ..receiving the.

1 rom an endless be 'mg'impurities to a third .aracae on an endless belt and ada ted to agitate and remove sediment from suc first pair, a skimmer conveyer for transferring the partly purified bitumen to a second an adapted to further facilitate the removal of impurities from the bitumen, a conveyer in the second pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom,

a skimmer conveyer in the second pan for .the crushed ore to a first pan, a conveyer in such first pan consisting in a pluralit of spades sup orted in series from an en less belt and adhpted to move sand and similar material in a cooperating trough, a skimmer conveyer for transferring the partly purified bitumen to a second pan adapted to further facilitate the removal of impurities from the bitumen, a conveyer in the second pan adapt ed to remove sediment therefrom, a skiinmer conveyer in the second pan for transferring the bitumen and remaining impurities to a third pan, means for heatin the third pan to drive off the moisture andli uefy the itumen, and a tank for receiving t e liquid bitumen. Y

8. -As a means for separating bitumen from bitumen bearing ore, a pulverizer for crushing the ore, a Water conveyer for conveying the crushed ore to a first pan, a conveyer in such first pan consisting in a plurality of angularly adjustable spades supported-in series t and adapted to move sand and similar material in an associated trough, a skimmer conveyer for transferring the partly purified bitumen toa second an adapted to further facilitate the remova of impuritiesfrom the bitumen, a conveyer in the second pan adapted to remove sediment therefrom, a skimmer conveyer in the second pan for transferring the bitumen and remainpan,- means for heating the third pan to drrve'off the moisture and liquefy the bitumen,.and a tank for receiving the liquid bitumen. I In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this third day of January,'A. D., 1 ()8.

GEORGE M. -WILLIS.

Witnesses: 1

GEORGE E. HIGHAM, LEONARD W. N OVANDER. 

